A 20-year-old man was tragically killed in a fire that broke out at a butchery at Mission Business Centre in Lower Gweru on the evening of October 15, 2024.
Speaking to Great Dyke News, Midlands Provincial Community Relations Liaison Officer Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko said, the deceased, identified as Leeroy Mpofu from Guduza Village under Chief Sogwala, was employed as a butchery attendant by Nkosana Sibanda, a local businessman aged 45.
He indicated that the incident unfolded around 8:30 p.m. when Darlington Mufundisi, 28, who works in a neighboring shop, reported hearing a loud burst followed by screams. Upon rushing outside, he found the butchery in flames with Mpofu trapped inside.
He said despite efforts by people at the business center to extinguish the fire, the blaze could not be contained in time to save the young man.
Local authorities were notified, and police attended the scene, where Mpofu’s body was discovered inside the burnt structure. Investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the fire.
